Writing this chapter was great fun, well, excluding maybe the first quarter. Enjoy!
Time went by faster than they could hope for, the term was well underway and Danny was very much part of the team now. They'd gotten good at hiding their relationship, sneaking the odd moment in private but generally just keeping their distance during the working day. After work drinks were a fairly frequent occurrence still and both of them couldn't help but be amused at Beth's continual attempts to seduce Danny. Something, however, was different this week. Clara noticed he seemed more subdued at work, less sociable. At home he seemed quieter and kept making excuses to stay up late, saying he had marking to do or lessons to plan, but he'd been coping until now.
It was a Friday evening and the little group all headed over to the pub after work, getting the first round in and discussing the mishaps of the working week. She hadn't noticed, not straight away, they'd got used to avoiding glances with each other – it was only when Beth perked up that she saw.
"Hey where's Danny tonight, he's usually here."
"He didn't really say he was coming, not that he's said much all week," Paul replied, "seems a little off colour." Clara bit her lip a little and pulled her phone out, but there were no messages.
"I'll be back in a sec, just going to the ladies," she put on a smile and left, stepping outside once nobody was watching and dialled his number. There was no reply. "Danny what's going on?" she sighed and looked back at the pub, shaking her head and walking back towards the school.
As she expected, his car was still there when she got back and it didn't take long to track him down, but when she got there Clara had to pause. He was in his classroom, the room she still hadn't stepped in since Tom died. Shutting her eyes and taking a deep breath she opened the door, walking in.
"Everyone's missing you," she told him, keeping away from the centre of the room.
"Sorry, things to do. I'll meet you at home don't worry, go have fun." Clara sighed and shut the door behind her.
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on," she folded her arms and gave him a look.
"Clara I'm fine, honestly, just getting in to the swing of it all still. I really want to get this finished before the weekend, go back to the pub before they start asking questions," he smiled and then looked back to his laptop. Clara was less than convinced, but decided there was no point arguing any further.
"Alright, but this isn't over," she sighed and backed away, still avoiding looking at back in to the room, "you're keeping something from me." With that, she left, making her way back.
Clara didn't stay long at the pub after, making some excuse about needing to make a phone call to explain her rather long trip to the loos. Adrian had taken her aside to ask how Danny was but she couldn't really give him much of an answer and after a while of being distracted in conversation she made more excuses and left. There was no sign of Danny when she arrived home and her stomach was complaining so she had to give in and make dinner, leaving some for him to heat up when he got back. She sat in front of the TV, only vaguely paying attention to it while she started reading over some essays. Time seemed to go by slowly and eventually Clara had to give up working when it became obvious she wasn't going to get anything done being so worried about Danny.
It was nearing 11pm when the door finally opened. Clara had her knees up to her chest as she sat on the sofa, jumping up when he walked in. Danny dropped his bag and went over to her, quickly examining her face.
"You've been crying," he told her, rubbing her cheek gently.
"So have you," she replied, pulling away from his touch, "are you going to talk now?" Danny looked around a little awkwardly at the floor and Clara sighed. "I'm going to bed I'm shattered, there's dinner on the side you can heat up if you're hungry." She kissed him quickly on the cheek before going upstairs to bed.
The next thing she knew there was a scream. Clara sat up quickly and tried to work out where it was coming from. Danny wasn't in the bed beside her and she quickly jumped up and followed the noise to the spare room. He was asleep, but he was writhing about in the bed. Clara didn't know what to do, it took a moment to process what was going on. After a few seconds she jumped on the bed and wrapped her arms around him, ignoring the slight battering she was receiving as a consequence. He kept thrashing for a while. She started to whisper in his ear, telling him she was there, telling him to keep calm.
"I don't know whether I'm doing the right thing, I don't know, but you're safe Danny you're safe," she kissed his forehead softly and he started to settle. She kept a tight grip around him as his eyes opened, tears forming in his eyes. He looked confused, like he was lost. "Danny you're at home, you're in bed, it's just a bad dream, everything's fine," she kissed his cheek and sat up a little to look him in the eye.
"Clara," he whispered her name, pulling her back down to hug her. "I'm sorry," he told her.
"Don't be sorry, this isn't your fault, oh love you're shaking…" Clara managed to move under the covers without going too far.
"We need… we need to talk," he told her but she shook her head.
"No, it's 3am Danny, we need to sleep, but I'm not going anywhere okay? Just rest now. We'll talk in the morning," she told him and lay her head down against him. "I love you." He was already asleep.
She woke up to an empty bed once more, stretching before getting up and heading downstairs. Danny was sat in the kitchen with tea and reading the book she'd leant him. Clara walked in and he leant over to flick the kettle back on while she made her way around. Neither of them spoke for a few minutes as she sat down and he made her tea, handing it over.
"It wasn't just a nightmare," Danny finally broke the silence as he sat down. "It's the anniversary of the day that made me leave the army, I saw something awful, I did something awful and I can't forget that. I've not had that dream in a while now, not since I met you," he confessed and she took his hands across the worktop. "I don't know if it's because it's the day or because I decided to sleep in the other room…"
"You wanted to tell me last night didn't you?" Clara asked, remembering what he'd said to her. Danny nodded.
"I don't blame you, you were tired and I've been distant all week. I made the decision to sleep in the spare room, not you, I should have told you sooner." Danny sighed gently and Clara stood up, walking round to put her arms around him.
"No, this was your news in your own time. I'm sorry I wasn't there, but I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere. You want to go somewhere today?" She asked, moving so she could drink her tea. "Take your mind off things?"
"How about the zoo?" Clara nearly choked on her tea in surprise and then chuckled. "What?! It'll be great fun. You must have a favourite animal there, everyone does. Let me guess… penguin?" he asked, looking hopeful. She shrugged and grinned.
"I guess you'll have to wait and see," Clara winked, "I'll go and get ready. See you soon," she kissed him quickly and jogged upstairs.
They made it to the zoo by mid-morning and immediately Clara started to run in, pulling him along for a while before slowing down and laughing. Danny smiled and pulled her close for a hug, swaying with her a little as they looked in on the snow leopards that were in front of them. Danny kissed her head gently before Clara moved her head to kiss him properly.
"It's lovely being out, we've not done it in a while," she took his hand, moving to carry on walking with him. They spent time looking at all the animals, just laughing and joking together and enjoying each other's company. Danny's mind was completely taken off what he'd been worrying about, enjoying his time with his fiancée and no longer needing to think about it.
They'd made it round to the monkey house, walking inside to look when Clara suddenly stopped and pushed him back outside and round the corner. Danny looked confused as she pulled him close in a little alcove at the side of the building.
"As much as I love you this probably isn't the place…?" he said but she shushed him.
"Beth is in there with her nieces, actually she's just about to walk out of the door," Clara whispered to him, keeping close and still. The door to the building opened and they listened to Beth encouraging her little nieces out. Danny leant out a little to see where they were but as he did he suddenly sneezed and tripped out. Clara's eyes widened and he quickly looked up at her, shaking his head to tell her to keep still, standing up as Beth noticed him.
"Danny? What are you doing here?" she asked, "and… why were you on the floor?" Beth asked, leaning down to pick up the younger of her nieces.
"Oh I'm meeting my friend and her son here but she's stuck in traffic so just wandering. As for the floor, I dropped my phone. Who are these smiley girls?" he asked, quickly changing the topic.
"Ah, this is Georgie," she nodded to the young girl in her arms, "and this is Hayley," she gestured to the one hiding behind her legs. "They're my sister's girls; we're having a fun weekend while Mummy and Daddy are away for their anniversary."
"Sounds like great fun to me, well I'd best not keep you," he smiled at them, conscious that Clara was still hiding.
"You can join us if you like; you'd be more than welcome." Beth was moving a little closer to him and Danny could hear Clara stifling a laugh at her response.
"Oh no don't worry I don't want to interrupt anything. You girls have a good day with your Auntie Beth, and I'll see you at work on Monday," Danny smiled again.
"Well come and say hi if you see us later, but otherwise see you Monday," Beth gave him a flirtatious smile as they walked away, Hayley running after her and asking questions about him. Once they were out of sight Danny took a few steps back and pulled Clara out to which she burst out laughing.
"Your face was a picture," she grinned, "you're adorable." Danny rolled his eyes and she kissed his cheek. "I can't believe she was flirting with you with her nieces there it was hilarious. Bless her heart I almost feel bad…"
"Don't you dare, I'm yours, nobody else's." Danny finished speaking just as Clara spotted Hayley coming round the corner and jumped back from him. "So how come you're here? It's like a teachers convention here today," Danny quickly caught on to her reaction.
"Really? Who else is here?" Clara asked just as Beth caught up with Hayley, "oh hello there, blimey is anyone else around?"
"No no, think it's just us, are you here alone too?" Beth asked, finally getting Hayley's hand. "Sorry, she wanted to come and say hello again I sort of lost control."
"Nah my Dad and Linda are here, I got fed up with all her comments and left them in the café. Hey there Hayley how're you my love?" Clara crouched down, having met Beth's nieces a few times. Hayley quickly started chatting away to her about her new school.
"Something about teachers and monkeys?" Danny joked to Beth who laughed a little more than necessary. "I'd better get going anyway, going to grab a coffee before I have to run after a small child all afternoon. See you both Monday," he said and Clara waved a little nonchalant, continuing to talk to Hayley and now Georgie too. Beth on the other hand played very much used the advantage of her distracted children to get close to Danny.
"You certainly will, maybe we should grab dinner as a celebration after?" There was barely a space between them when Clara glanced up briefly.
"Celebrating what, exactly?" Danny asked, Beth hesitated, "I'll let you think over that one. See you Monday." He quickly went off in the direction of the café.
Clara stood up again once he was gone, "I should probably make myself known to my father once more. It was lovely to see these two again; we'll have to meet up sometime when I'm not burdened by my step-mother," she smiled.
"Yeah definitely," Beth was still glancing in the direction of Danny and Clara suddenly clapped in front of her face to bring her out of her daydream. "Sorry, yes, we'll arrange something."
"You know, you're starting to try a little too hard, maybe tone it back a notch?" Beth shrugged at her comments. "Whatever I'll see you Monday." Clara waved goodbye to the girls as she walked off, also in the direction of the café.
Danny had indeed bought coffee as well as a tea for her which he pushed across the table as she sat down. They both made eye contact for a second before bursting in to laughter.
"I honestly don't know how we got away with that!" Clara spoke as she calmed herself back to a chuckle.
"Some very clever wording I believe," Danny replied and Clara raised her eyebrows, nodding once.
"We'll make an English teacher of you yet," she smirked before sipping her tea.
"And have to deal with Beth visiting me more than once a day in my classroom? No no I think I'll stick to maths ta." Danny took her hand across the question.
"I have a question," Clara started, putting her cup down. "If I wasn't in the picture, would you?" Danny looked a little shocked, "don't worry I'm in no way worried or jealous, just a little intrigued."
"Well, I suppose I'd go for dinner and see how it went yes, but it doesn't feel anything like it did meeting you." Danny lifted her hand a little and kissed her fingers.
"Mmm she's not shouting at you anywhere near often enough for you to fall in love, I get that," Clara giggled as he dropped her hand and rolled his eyes, pretending to be offended. "Hey it's me that I'm picking on there not you! Anyway, we've come a long way since then." She grabbed his hand once more, letting their fingers intertwine. "Can we head back out now?"
"Of course, we didn't come here to sit in a café and I'm pretty sure Beth will be a safe distance now." Danny smiled, standing up with her and heading out. It was as they opened the door that Clara heard the voice behind her.
"Clara?" She shut her eyes briefly, hoping she'd imagined it.
"Keep walking, don't look back, I'll meet you outside," Clara whispered to Danny before letting go of his hand and turning around, hearing the door shut behind her soon after. "Helen! Fancy seeing you here…" it was getting a little ridiculous now.
"Harry's birthday, he's over there with his mates, was quite glad of the chance to escape for a minute or two. So who's that you're with? You told me there was no news in your love life?" She nudged her, grinning a little. Clara quickly tried to come up with some other story, but a family member wasn't exactly going to cut it.
"It's early days, I didn't really want to say anything what with everything. Still testing the water I guess." She went for vagueness, hoping it would pay off and grateful that Helen clearly hadn't recognised Danny from behind.
"So what's his name then, where'd you meet?!" If it wasn't for the situation Clara would have found her interest quite frustrating. Helen was lovely, but she could be very full on at times.
"Liam, he was a leader on the summer camp I helped out at" - not all a lie - "lives the other side of town and we got on okay, it's just a trial really, see how I can deal with it all. I really don't want too many questions right now; I'm still figuring it out myself." Helen gave her a slightly sympathetic and understanding look. "Please don't, honestly I'm fed up with the sympathy. You'll all find out everything when the time is right I promise. I'd better get going…" Clara gestured a little towards the door.
"Of course, don't want to leave him waiting. See you Monday Clara," Helen turned to go back to her table and she quickly escaped.
"This is getting ridiculous," Clara sighed as she found Danny waiting around the corner. "Maybe we should go home?"
"Oh I don't know I'm quite enjoying running away from all your colleagues," he laughed, pulling her close. "You do know you've had your ring on this whole time don't you?" Clara suddenly looked down at her left hand and Danny grinned, lifting it up and kissing the ring gently.
"I honestly don't know how neither of them spotted that," she moved to put her hands around his neck and kissed him gently.
"Clara you dropped…" Danny and Clara quickly split, looking around to see Helen stood behind them. "Liam eh?" she smirked and Clara knew they'd been busted.
"Helen please you can't say anything, not yet, and we did actually meet on summer camp, that wasn't a lie, I just don't want everyone knowing there'll be too many questions and I can't deal with that," Danny put a hand on her shoulder to calm her.
"My lips are sealed, I promise. You've done a pretty good job of keeping it under wraps though, I honestly had no idea." Helen commented as Clara absentmindedly moved her left hand to take Danny's hand on her shoulder. "Hold on, is that what I think it is? That doesn't look like…" Clara mentally hit herself for being so obvious.
"Yes it is and no it's not," she reached her right hand in to her top and pulled out Tom's ring still hung around her neck to make a point before putting it back. "I know it seems fast, and we will tell people but in our own time. I didn't want Danny to be judged for this, and I really don't want all the questions. It's serious, but for now it needs to be secret," Danny kissed her head gently.
"Hey I'm sure Helen will be discreet, it's fine," he reassured her.
"Of course, I won't say a word. Clara I'm happy for you, for both of you, but you deserve this more than anyone I know. I'll leave you to it, but you know I want more details asap." Helen grinned and handed over the scarf that Clara had dropped before disappearing.
"She'll keep quiet, I do trust her I just… I don't know," Clara sighed and turned around to hug in to him.
"Stop panicking and put that smile back on your face missy, nothing has changed. I have a beautiful fiancée and you're not too bad off either," Danny winked and she chuckled a little. "Come on you, let's carry on round eh? You're meant to be cheering me up not the other way around." Clara nodded, kissing him gently and then moving to take his hand and walk beside him.
They soon got back in to the feel of the day, forgetting all that had happened earlier and enjoying each other's company around the various enclosures. The rest of the day passed quickly and by the time they returned to the car Clara was shattered. Danny smiled as she fell asleep almost immediately when they started the journey home. He managed to carry her inside while barely waking her when they'd got back, laying her on the sofa and resting a blanket on her while he went to sort out dinner.
He glanced through occasionally; she looked so peaceful lying there. He knew that, as good as today had been, it wasn't easy for her to have people knowing. Whatever excuses she made, he knew that her biggest worry was the judgement people would make over her choices. Danny couldn't blame her for that either – she'd been through a lot and nobody expected her to move on in this way after how much she'd clearly been affected before the summer. He'd heard a few stories since he started, some that he'd had to resist commenting on, but this beautiful strong woman was far more vulnerable than even he could have imagined at times.
Once dinner was made he left it in the oven to keep warm, sitting down on the other sofa and watching her sleep. Her left hand was holding her necklace loosely in her sleep, something that made Danny smile. He knew people would expect him to want her to forget Tom, move on completely, but he accepted very early on that was never going to happen. Tom was a part of their relationship and, as strange as that may seem to some people, he never wanted that to change. When his phone rang Danny almost fell off the sofa, quickly pulling it out and answering so as not to wake Clara, but sighing a little when he saw the name on the screen.
"Beth, have you not had enough of me yet today?" he made his way back in to the kitchen and shut the door.
"Just thought I'd see how your day went after all," she replied. "I saw Helen after lunch, I mentioned you were around but she said she hadn't seen you." Danny smiled a little.
"Ah no I didn't see her; evidently it was teachers day at the zoo. My day was lovely, my friend's little boy is very lively but great fun so he's worn me out well. Did your nieces enjoy the rest of their day?" he asked.
"Oh yes, they're both fast asleep right now, might have to wake them up for dinner so they sleep tonight but it was a lovely day. Hayley loved meeting you by the way." Beth was trying, bless her, but whatever he did she wouldn't let go.
"Well it was lovely to meet her too. I'd better get going anyway, things to do people to see," in reality he'd just heard Clara stirring in the living room, "see you Monday Beth." He hung up quickly and opened the kitchen door to go back through where Clara was now sat up, adjusting to her surroundings. "Hey sleepyhead, how you feeling?" he flicked the kettle on quickly before going in to sit beside her.
"How long was I out?" she asked, leaning on his shoulder.
"An hour or so, you looked so peaceful in the car I didn't want to wake you. Dinner's ready when you are; you want me to plate up?" Danny asked.
"Mmm I'm starving, I'm just gonna go change." Clara stood up and he quickly followed. "Thank you for today, it's been really wonderful," she smiled and kissed him gently. "I love you so much." Danny kissed her back and ran a hand through her hair gently.
"I love you too, and I'm so proud of you for how far you've come. Go on, get changed and we'll have a night on the sofa," he smiled and let her go.